In Irkutsk, the progress of construction of five new kindergartens was checked, which should significantly reduce the shortage of preschool places. Soon, facilities in Pervomaisky, Rabochy and Novo-Lenino will open, and together they will be able to take about 1500 children. The city administration notes that some facilities are close to completion, and the city continues the program to build and reconstruct kindergartens until 2015.

One of them will open in the Pervomaisky microdistrict on 14 Almaznaya St., the second on Pisareva St. in Rabochy. Both kindergartens have 110 places. Three more new kindergartens will welcome children in the Novo-Lenino microdistrict. On July 31, Deputy Mayor and Chairman of the Committee on Social Policy and Culture of the city administration Igor Borisov and Head of the Education Department Valentina Peregudova inspected the progress of construction at the facilities in this microdistrict.
For more than twenty years, the building at 153a Sevastopolskaya St. housed a boarding school for 80 people. Due to the urgency of the problem of providing Irkutsk residents with kindergartens, the city administration decided to reconstruct the premises and place Kindergarten No. 177 with 180 places here. Work began in February this year, and about 22 million rubles have been allocated from the city budget. During this time, work has been carried out to repair engineering communications, the roof, and reconstruct the premises. Construction work is now continuing on finishing, facade reconstruction, and landscaping of the territory. As Igor Borisov noted, the completion date for this facility has been delayed due to additional work, so all measures must be taken to increase the pace. October 1 has been set as the final deadline for completion of the facility.
The construction of Kindergarten No. 175 at 7 Baumana St., microdistrict, is in its final stage. In July of this year, a new contractor began work. Electrical supply and telephone installation have been completed, the premises have been finished, and security systems have been installed. Landscaping of the territory is now underway: installation of shade canopies, sports grounds, landscaping, and paving of paths. The building of this kindergarten was originally built to modern standards—it includes spacious rooms, a swimming pool, computer, sports and music halls, and separate play and sleeping rooms. New energy-saving technologies have been used in the heating and ventilation systems during construction. Construction of this building began back in July 2010 and was supposed to be completed in the anniversary year of 2011. However, because the company “Unity” failed to meet deadlines, the municipal contract was terminated. As Deputy Mayor Igor Borisov emphasized, the kindergarten will open on September 1, and 256 children will receive places there.
At 8 Michurina St., construction is underway on a new building for Kindergarten No. 95 with 175 places. The old structures of the semi-equipped kindergarten for 4 groups were demolished. Work began in February this year by the contractor OOO Kresta. New heating networks have been brought to the building, and the kindergarten’s territory has been doubled in size. Work on the roof and facade of the building, interior finishing, exterior landscaping, and installation of fencing is in its final stage. The kindergarten will delight children with a wonderful mosaic swimming pool, spacious halls for sports and creative activities, and additional utility rooms.
As city administration representatives noted, the builders are meeting deadlines, and the work is being carried out with good quality. Completion is scheduled for early October. As Valentina Peregudova noted, groups for children aged 3 to 7, who need not only supervision but also education, will mainly be organized in the new childcare facilities.
Commenting on the situation as a whole, Igor Borisov noted that the opening of five kindergartens will significantly ease the situation—about 1,500 people will receive places.
“Over the past three years alone, the administration has managed to provide additional places for more than 4,000 children,” he emphasized. “The problem is being solved through mobilizing internal resources, expanding space, returning former kindergarten buildings to the municipality, and, of course, commissioning new facilities. This year, construction has begun on three more childcare institutions in the Baikalsky and Yubileiny microdistricts, and on Mukhina St. The program through 2015 provides for the construction of 17 kindergartens. The administration has also purchased 2 buildings of departmental kindergartens at the Batareynaya station and on Novatorov St., where reconstruction work will begin in 2013. Next year, work will be carried out to expand the kindergarten on Rabochego Shtaba St. There is confidence that over the next two to three years we will be able to reduce the severity of the problem, and then solve it.”
Based on materials from the press service of the Irkutsk city administration